Atomic Physics
Harnessing the potential wide-ranging quantum science applications of molecules will require control of their interactions. Here, we use microwave radiation to directly engineer and tune the interaction potentials between ultracold calcium…
Compact cold-atom sensors depend on vacuum technology. One of the major limitations to miniaturizing these sensors are the active pumps -- typically ion pumps -- required to sustain the low pressure needed for laser cooling. Although…
We describe methods for the production of spin-polarized H and D atoms from the IR-excitation and photodissociation of molecular beams of HBr, HI, and ${\rm NH_{3}}$ isotopes, including optical excitation schemes with partial hyperfine…
We report calculation of the energy spectrum and the spectroscopic properties of the superheavy element ion: Rf^+. We use the 4-component relativistic Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian and the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) model…
The emerging field of quantum simulation of many-body systems is widely recognized as a very important application of quantum computing. A crucial step towards its realization in the context of many-electron systems requires a rigorous…
Investigations of isotope shifts of atomic spectral lines provide insights into nuclear properties. Deviations from the linear dependence of the isotope shifts of two atomic transitions on nuclear parameters, leading to a nonlinearity of…
We report calculations of QED corrections to the $g$ factor of Li-like ions induced by the exchange of two virtual photons between the electrons. The calculations are performed within QED theory to all orders in the nuclear binding strength…
We report the experimental observation of the rotation of the polarization plane of light propagating in a gas of fast-spinning molecules (molecular super-rotors). In the observed effect, related to Fermi's prediction of "polarization drag"…
The K x-ray spectra of different targets (Cu, Zn, and Ge) induced by 3 to 5 MeV/u Si projectile ions have been measured to determine the K-shell ionization cross-section. A significant difference is observed between the measurements and…
Novel quantum technologies and devices place unprecedented demands on the performance of experimental components, while their widespread deployment beyond the laboratory necessitates increased robustness and fast, affordable production. We…
Alkali atoms trapped in solid hydrogen matrices have demonstrated ultralong electron spin coherence times, and are promising as quantum sensors. Their spin coherence is limited by magnetic noise from naturally-occurring orthohydrogen…
A steady-state magneto-optical trap (MOT) of fermionic strontium atoms operating on the 7.5 kHz-wide ${^1\mathrm{S}_0} - {^3\mathrm{P}_1}$ transition is demonstrated. This MOT features $8.4 \times 10^{7}$ atoms, a loading rate of $1.3\times…
Cryogenic environments benefit ion trapping experiments by offering lower motional heating rates, collision energies, and an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment for maintaining long ion chains for extended periods of time. Mechanical…
Relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) calculations with configuration interaction (CI) are carried out for the $^{1}S_{0}$ and $^{3}P_{0,1}^o$ states in neutral ytterbium by use of the available GRASP2018 package. From…
An implementation of the Hartree-Fock (HF) method capable of robust convergence for well-behaved arbitrary central potentials is presented. The Hartree-Fock equations are converted to a generalized eigenvalue problem by employing a B-spline…
We experimentally investigate the nonlinear transmission spectrum of coherent light fields propagating through a Rydberg EIT medium with strong atomic interactions. In contrast to previous investigations, which have largely focused on…
We investigate twisted electrons with a well defined orbital angular momentum, which have been ionised via a strong laser field. By formulating a new variant of the well-known strong field approximation, we are able to derive conservation…
We investigate the discrete orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photoelectrons freed in strongfield ionization. We use these `twisted' electrons to provide an alternative interpretation on existing experimental work of vortex interferences…
We present a self-calibrating, SI-traceable broadband Rydberg-atom-based radio-frequency (RF) electric field probe (the Rydberg Field Probe or RFP) and measurement instrument (Rydberg Field Measurement System or RFMS). The RFMS comprises an…
Radio reception relies on antennas for the collection of electromagnetic fields carrying information, and receiver elements for demodulation and retrieval of the transmitted information. Here we demonstrate an atom-based receiver for AM and…